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Friday, July 10, 2009

Flushing is the term used when a special feeding program is used on your animals before breeding in hope that you will get more babies per mom when the time comes.

Some breeders purposely do not flush. (This is especially common in Katahdins since they are so productive already. We didn't flush last fall and we didn't get any singles.) Some mothers are capable of producing several more babies

then they are able to feed. So if you're against bottle feeding, think before you flush your ewes/does.

I am all for flushing and getting as many babies out of my girls once a year, since I don't really like breeding them less then 12 months apart. Since I raise dairy goats, I don't have to fork out money for milk replacer, which is a huge blessing. Most of my animals have been am

azing mothers, I really have nothing to worry about.

So, why flush is easy. More productivity. In addition you want your girls in good shape before going through pregnancy, anyways.

How is trickier. First you want to be sure your girls aren't over weight before you begin to flush. You pretty much want them on their lowest healthy weight, so they don't get fat through the process. :-) Flushing will also make a bigger difference this way. (I'm not saying to starve them, keep them healthy.)

From personal experience and word of mouth I have found that a good quality of alfalfa or alfalfa pellets is very satisfactory. I have used this any years I have flushed. Sometimes I feed a specific grain as well, but those tend to be higher in fat. (Through research done in cattle, it was concluded that high fat intake before breeding significantly increased the amount of bull calves born. So, I stay away from to much fat and go for proteins and fiber, which alfalfa is perfect for.)

Lush grass also plays a huge role in flushing. It is a wonderful idea to put a pasture aside until it is really green and yummy and then turn your ewes/does into it.

Your girl should also be up to date on hoof trimming, worming, and any other vaccinations you do. I always give their booster Convexin 8 when I start flushing along with Bo-se and a long lasting dewormer.

When to start flushing. It is best to have your girl on your flush feeding about 17 days before you plan on breeding. Do not take her off the day after she gets bred. Keep her on the same feeding and gradually move her back down. (A doe or ewe should be fed the same as she was when dry for at least the first two months of pregnancy, or your going to end up with a fatty girl or over sized babies.)

If any one else has ideas or comments about flushing, please pass them on. I'm still learning a lot here.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Less then a month until our planned breeding season! Today we were able to get every one vaccinated, dewormed, moved to new pastures, and hoof trimmed. It feels wonderful.

I now only have 4 lambs to wean of their moms, follow up hoof trimming, and the second dose of Bo-Se to bucks before I begin to flush everyone. Meanwhile, I have a couple ewes and does that need to lose a few pounds first. :-) Also...it might be nice if I weaned my 6 month old ram lamb from the bottle before I start using him this year...

Thank goodness its cooled off! We have had two lovely overcast days now. Perfect for outside work and for pictures...

Drowsy Waters

This blog is dedicated to the happenings at Drowsy Waters.

Although there are other animals around the farm, Katahdin Hair Sheep are our main focus. We have been working with these amazing sheep since 1999 and have developed a passion and vision for the breed.

This blog hold stories, updates, and ramblings of the primary flock caretaker on current events in the sheep world to small incidents in the barn.

DW's Lemongrass

Holland Lop Rabbits

We enjoy showing (and sometimes winning) as well as breeding our Hollands. As of 2009 we cut back on showing but still enjoy working with these sweet bunnies.

Besides being excellent show rabbits, Hollands are the perfect pet. We have been really blessed to be working with some of the amazing stock from all the great breeders here on the west coast!

Texas

"I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion."

Alexander the Great

Parsley

"Every boy should have two things: a dog, and a mother willing to let him have one."

Amelia and Vienna

"If you have men who exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men."

St. Francis of Assisi

Hermen

"To err is human- to forgive, canine"

Rebel

"Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends."

Cicero

John 10:11-16

"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

As the father knoweth me, even so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep have I which are not of this fold: them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."

Class of Jr Ram Lambs

Louis ~ Eight year old RR ram

Holland Babies

Dairy ewe with her triplets.

KRK 977 ~ Johann~ Registered RR yearling ram.

Twin from a yearling ~ Seven month old ram lamb.

BOB Holland Lop

"Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds." ~Proverbs 27:23~